Structural Design of Buildings

Presented in a clear structure and user–friendly style, Paul Smith’s Structural Design of Buildings goes through all the structural aspects of a building and assesses the importance of the different components. Many people undertake, supervise or survey buildings without fully understanding and appreciating the key structural parameters in their construction. This essential on–site guide to the behaviour of a building’s structure gives some of the basics of structures together with plenty of real–life examples. Essentially a practical book, it will not over–complicate the theoretical aspects but will explain the structural importance of the different parts of a building and examine common problems, the most frequent causes of structural failures, and their remedies. Written for building surveyors and designers as well as building control officers and building owners, the book explains how structures differ between modern and traditional buildings and, in particular, the likely failures if the structural components are not given proper consideration. This is a resource for the planning stages and also for use on site. The guidance offered is developed from the author’s many years of responding to requests from building professionals for clarification of the behaviour of the structural elements of buildings. The book is relevant to new build, renovations, alterations, conversions or examining an existing structural problem; it covers both domestic and commercial buildings.

About the Author

Introduction

Chapter one: The history of buildings

Chapter two: Loadings and aspects of structural theory relating to buildings

Chapter three: The construction of buildings

Chapter four: Steel

Chapter five: Concrete

Chapter six: Timber

Chapter seven: Foundations

Chapter eight: Walls

Chapter nine: Floors

Chapter ten: Roofs

Chapter eleven: Arches and columns

Chapter twelve: Geology

Chapter thirteen: Site investigation

Chapter fourteen: Stability of buildings

Chapter fifteen: Dimensions of buildings

Chapter sixteen: Basements and retaining structures

Chapter seventeen: Structural alterations

Chapter eighteen: Structural defects in buildings

Chapter nineteen: The ancient use of sign and geometry in the setting out of buildings

Bibliography

Index

Paul Smith, BEng (Hons) Civil Engineering, MSc Engineering Management, CEng Chartered Engineer, has worked for over 20 years in public and private sectors, mainly on infrastructure projects. He now runs his own company, Geomex – Structural Engineers & Architectural Design Consultants which specialises in architectural design, surveying, project management and structural design.